During its budget deliberations in April, the City of Kamloops decided to go ahead with an increase to the cost of its dog licensing program.

That $5 hike went into effect last week, bringing the cost of licensing an unfixed dog to $65 and a fixed pooch to $30 a year.

That city also has a category for nuisance or aggressive dogs, which cost $105 to licence. A dog with a dangerous dog designation — meaning it’s mauled or killed an animal or human — will cost nearly double that to license.

The revenue from those licences is used, in part, for upgrades to the city’s network of dog-friendly parks, which includes 15 off-leash dog parks. Those improvements are worth in the neighbourhood of $35,000, and include lighting, signs and even toys for dogs.

The City of Kamloops issues something like 7,000 licences for pooches a year.

Those little tags mean city officials can track down where the dog belongs should it ever somehow escape.

While it is a good idea to have your information associated with your pet (they are yours, after all), it’s also a mandatory program that dog owners are expected to participate in.

In Merritt, the dog licensing program is mandatory as well, though it’ll cost you less than up the highway.

Neutered and spayed dogs in Merritt are $15 to licence, while their unfixed counterparts are $30.

However, if you have a dangerous dog, a licence will cost you $1,000 a year and they’ll get a special, distinctive tag. (The process of designating a “dangerous dog” is not clear, but the category exists in the city’s bylaws in writing, anyway.)

According to a report by the city’s bylaw officer included in the Sept. 24 council meeting agenda package, the City of Merritt has issued 483 dog licences this year.

That’s a lot of dogs, but it’s certainly not all the pet dogs in Merritt.

Besides being a requirement of living in city limits, licensing your dog means in the event it escapes, it can be returned.

Dogs can be crafty little weasels, and slip out from underneath the noses of even the most attentive owners.

Sure, people could go and get their own dog tags made up without registering them with the city, but then it wouldn’t be a revenue stream benefiting public coffers.

Interestingly, the City of Kamloops also runs a voluntary cat registration program. Participating in that program will set a cat owner back $40 one time, instead of yearly, and the city will issue a tag with a licence number linked to owners’ information just like with the dog program.

In other parts of Canada, there are many other cities that have made cat licensing mandatory.

In Edmonton, it’ll set you back $20 a year to licence your kitty — $75 if it’s not fixed.

Calgary’s cat and dog licensing program applies to all those four-legged fur-balls over three months old, as opposed to the standard six.

The City of Regina offers a hefty discount for kittens under six months old, spayed/neutered cats, and show cats with the proper documentation.

The City of Winnipeg is starting up its mandatory cat licensing program in January 2015.

Pet insurance can help cover unexpected vet bills, but it’s a buyer-beware market out there, just like with other types of insurance. Some research beforehand could save you a lot of trouble if your dog isn’t covered for a pre-existing condition or on travels outside of the country (lucky dog).

While critics may say these associated costs are nickel-and-diming pet owners and even discouraging pet ownership, I’m reluctant to paint it with such a simple brush.

These programs hold owners somewhat accountable for the behaviour of their pets in shared spaces, and can reunite a pet owner with their beloved animal in the event the pet makes a desperate bid for a life of leash-less freedom.

A pet is a big commitment, and $30 is chump change when it comes to the care of a dog in the long term — furry, loveable money pits that pets are.

PLEASANTON, Calif., Oct. 22, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Maddie’s Fund® today announced the final number of adoptions made at their 2014 Maddie’s® Pet Adoption Days event. An unparalleled 16,665 dogs and cats found homes during the nation’s largest free pet adoption event, sponsored by Maddie’s Fund. This represents a 98% increase over last year’s 8,432 adoptions for this two-day event. Maddie’s Fund originally set aside $10 million to underwrite the adoptions managed by participating organizations this year, however, the total donation awarded to groups for qualifying adoptions this year was actually $13.3 million.

In its fifth year, Maddie’s® Pet Adoption Days spanned 591 cities in nine states across the U.S. More than 200 shelters and rescue groups worked enthusiastically over the two days to give homeless pets a second chance. Communities throughout the country were buzzing with adoption events, and many locations had people lined up hours before their doors opened.

“We’ve made lifesaving history!” said Maddie’s Fund president Rich Avanzino. “We are so honored to partner with all of the shelters, rescue groups and adopters who were there for homeless animals when they most needed help. This dedication to shelter pets is inspiring. For me, they are the true heroes.”

Inspired by one family’s love for a Miniature Schnauzer, Maddie’s® Pet Adoption Days has found homes for more than 30,000 homeless dogs and cats since 2010. For each pet adopted, Maddie’s Fund gives participating shelters from $500 to $2,000 to cover the true costs of those adoptions. This funding enables shelters and rescue groups to save and treat more animals throughout the year with a total of $24.7 million in funding going to these groups over the past five years.

“It’s an incredible feeling when you see entire communities come together to find shelter pets families of their own. Watching people fall in love with those pets, the shelter pets going home with their new families, and seeing the staff and volunteers celebrating… it’s overwhelming. Cheryl and I see the spirit of Maddie at every adoption location we visit,” said Maddie’s Fund founder Dave Duffield. “This event demonstrates that we are all, collaboratively, making the world a better place. And there’s nothing better than being part of that.”

Maddie was a beloved four-legged family member of Dave Duffield, founder of Workday® and PeopleSoft, and his wife, Cheryl. For the last five years, Maddie’s Fund, their family foundation, has sponsored Maddie’s® Pet Adoption Days to honor her memory.

About Maddie’s FundMaddie’s Fund® is a family foundation endowed by the founder of Workday® and PeopleSoft, Dave Duffield and his wife, Cheryl. Maddie’s Fund, whose mission is to revolutionize the status and well-being of companion animals, is helping to achieve and sustain a no-kill nation by providing solutions to the most challenging issues facing the animal welfare community through grant giving, hands-on animal care, and research and education. Maddie’s Fund is named after the family’s beloved Miniature Schnauzer who passed away in 1997. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram

According to a recent survey by the Humane Society of the United States, 62 percent of American households own at least one pet. Pet owners spend more than $50 billion per year each their pets, too. Certainly, that’s a lot of money. How can we save more money on our furry, feathered and scaled pet friends?

DEAR JILL: One tip I’ve seen before is don’t buy dogs that have to be groomed. More importantly, Don’t buy dogs or any pets. Adopt, adopt, adopt. — LEE

JILL SAYS: This is a great tip. I think nearly everyone is aware of the pet overpopulation issues in our country. There are far more dogs and cats looking for homes than there are people willing to adopt them. I understand that some people are tied to wanting specific breeds of dogs or cats, but breed-specific rescue groups abound for everything from Jack Russell terriers to Labrador Retrievers.

We recently adopted a new dog through a local rescue group. Our dear senior dog passed away after more than 13 years with our family. After grieving for a few months, we were ready to open our hearts to another dog. The Internet makes it easy to find a local animal shelter or rescue group in your area — many offer online profiles with photos of their adoptable pets.

After connecting with a local group and deciding which dog we wanted to meet, the rescue group brought the dog to our house to meet our family. We were able to see how he interacted with us in our house and yard.

Well, we were all smitten with the German shepherd mix with big brown eyes that curled up in on the living room floor and seemed to be “home!” Less than a week later, we welcomed him home to stay.

Our first dog came from a local farmer whose dog had puppies, and I learned of the advantages to adopting from a dog rescue this time around. With our “farm boy,” we were responsible for all of the costs of vaccinating and neutering our dog. These expenses quickly added up to hundreds of dollars the first year — not including the $400 I paid the farmer for the dog.

When we adopted our new dog from the rescue, our $325 adoption fee included all of his necessary vaccinations and his neutering procedure. They took care of all of these procedures with a local veterinarian before the adoption was finalized.

Another benefit? Adopting from a rescue group meant that our dog had lived with a foster family for a few weeks prior to coming home with us. We were able to get a sense of his personality and behavior by talking to the family. We don’t know much about his previous life, but he arrived at our door completely housebroken and knew some basic obedience commands. That’s a plus you can’t put a price on.

Of course, sometimes you don’t choose a pet — they find you. Last summer, a feral cat showed up in our yard and began living under our deck. She was afraid of people, but she also didn’t seem in a hurry to leave. After a few months, we realized she was likely here to stay.

I don’t mind having a cat around, but I also wasn’t keen on spending more than $300 to have a stray cat spayed. I called our local county’s extension office and learned about their feral cat catch-and-release program. For $35, they would trap, spay and return the cat to the property. This seemed like a small price to pay to ensure that we didn’t end up with more cats living in the backyard — especially when I was informed that female cats can have a litter of kittens every nine weeks.

I mention this as I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s had a pet “find” them unexpectedly. There may be discount spay/neuter programs you can take advantage of if you find yourself in a similar scenario.

According to a recent survey by the Humane Society of the United States, 62 percent of American households own at least one pet. Pet owners spend more than $50 billion per year on their pets. How can we save some money on our furry, feathered and scaled pet friends? Read on:

Dear Jill: One tip I’ve seen before is “Don’t buy dogs that have to be groomed.” More importantly, “Don’t buy dogs or any pets.” Adopt, adopt, adopt. — Lee

Dear Lee: This is a great tip — I think nearly everyone is aware of the pet overpopulation issues in our country. There are far more dogs and cats looking for homes than there are people willing to adopt them. I understand that some people are tied to wanting specific breeds of dogs or cats, but breed-specific rescue groups abound for everything from Jack Russell terriers to Labrador retrievers.

We recently adopted a new dog through a local rescue group. Our dear senior dog passed away after more than 13 years with our family. After grieving for a few months, we were ready to open our hearts to another dog. The Internet makes it easy to find a local animal shelter or rescue groups.

Many offer online profiles with photos of their adoptable pets. After connecting with a local group and deciding which dog we wanted to meet, the rescue group brought the dog to our house to meet our family. We were able to see how he interacted with us in our house and yard.

Well, we were all smitten with the German Shepherd mix with big brown eyes that curled up on the living room floor and seemed to be “home.” Less than a week later, we welcomed him home to stay.

Our first dog came from a local farmer whose dog had puppies, and I learned of the advantages to adopting from a dog rescue this time around. With our “farm boy,” we were responsible for all of the costs of vaccinating and neutering our dog. These expenses quickly added up to hundreds of dollars the first year — not including the $400 I paid the farmer for the dog.

When we adopted our new dog from the rescue, our $325 adoption fee included all of his necessary vaccinations and his neutering procedure. They took care of all of these procedures with a local veterinarian before the adoption was finalized.

Of course, sometimes you don’t choose a pet — they find you.

JILL CATALDO, a mother of three, never passes up a good deal. Write to her at www.super-couponing.com.

According to a recent survey by the Humane Society of the United States, 62 percent of American households own at least one pet. Pet owners spend more than $50 billion per year on their pets, too! Certainly, that’s a lot of money. How can we save more money on our furry, feathered and scaled pet friends?

“Dear Jill,

One tip I’ve seen before is ‘don’t buy dogs that have to be groomed.’ More importantly, ‘Don’t BUY dogs or any pets.’ Adopt, adopt, adopt.

Lee P.”

This is a great tip — I think nearly everyone is aware of the pet overpopulation issues in our country. There are far more dogs and cats looking for homes than there are people willing to adopt them. I understand that some people are tied to wanting specific breeds of dogs or cats, but breed-specific rescue groups abound for everything from Jack Russell terriers to Labrador Retrievers.

We recently adopted a new dog through a local rescue group. Our dear senior dog passed away after more than 13 years with our family. After grieving for a few months, we were ready to open our hearts to another dog. The Internet makes it easy to find a local animal shelter or rescue group in your area — many offer online profiles with photos of their adoptable pets. After connecting with a local group and deciding which dog we wanted to meet, the rescue group brought the dog to our house to meet our family. We were able to see how he interacted with us in our house and yard. Well, we were all smitten with the German Shepherd mix with big brown eyes that curled up in on the living room floor and seemed to be “home!” Less than a week later, we welcomed him home to stay.

Our first dog came from a local farmer whose dog had puppies, and I learned of the advantages to adopting from a dog rescue this time around. With our “farm boy,” we were responsible for all of the costs of vaccinating and neutering our dog. These expenses quickly added up to hundreds of dollars the first year — not including the $400 I paid the farmer for the dog. When we adopted our new dog from the rescue, our $325 adoption fee included all of his necessary vaccinations and his neutering procedure. They took care of all of these procedures with a local veterinarian before the adoption was finalized.

Another benefit? Adopting from a rescue group meant that our dog had lived with a foster family for a few weeks prior to coming home with us. We were able to get a sense of his personality and behavior by talking to the family. We don’t know much about his previous life, but he arrived at our door completely housebroken and knew some basic obedience commands. (That’s a plus you can’t put a price on!)

Of course, sometimes you don’t choose a pet — they find you. Last summer, a feral cat showed up in our yard and began living under our deck. She was afraid of people, but she also didn’t seem in a hurry to leave. After a few months, we realized she was likely here to stay.

I don’t mind having a cat around, but I also wasn’t keen on spending more than $300 to have a stray cat spayed. I called our local county’s extension office and learned about their feral cat catch-and-release program. For $35, they would trap, spay and return the cat to the property. This seemed like a small price to pay to ensure that we didn’t end up with more cats living in the backyard — especially when I was informed that female cats can have a litter of kittens every nine weeks.

I mention this as I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s had a pet “find” them unexpectedly. There may be discount spay/neuter programs you can take advantage of if you find yourself in a similar scenario.

Next week, I’ll share more pet-savings tips from readers.

Jill Cataldo, a coupon workshop instructor, writer and mother of three, never passes up a good deal. Learn more about Super-Couponing at her website, www.jillcataldo.com. Email your own couponing victories and questions to jill@ctwfeatures.com.

The first ever pre-nuptial agreement for pet owners is being introduced in Cambridge.

Blue Cross, which has a re-homing centre in Garlic Row, has today announced the launch of the Pet Nup, the pet equivalent of a pre-nuptial agreement.

The charity is encouraging pet owners to consider their beloved cats and dogs and sign up to this specially created document to plan for the pets’ future to avoid further heartache should their relationship come to an end.

A recent report carried out by the charity has revealed that more than one in four divorced couples in the UK has argued over the ownership of their pets when they split.

Blue Cross figures show that marital conflict and relationship breakdown has been the cause of almost a thousand pets given up to Blue Cross’s re-homing centres over the past five years – an average of four a week.

The leading pet charity has partnered with divorce lawyers, Lloyd Platt & Company, in an attempt to stop the numbers of pets getting caught up in marital disputes around the country and lessen the stress and heartache for owners and pets alike.

It comes as almost two thirds of those questioned revealed that arguing over treasured pets had added to the emotional turmoil of a divorce. And 66 per cent admitted that a pre-agreed written agreement, stipulating at the outset who would get ownership of pets and who would pay for what in the event of a divorce, would have made the process a lot less upsetting and they would have argued less about it.

Dogs and cats were identified as the most fought over pets followed by horses, rabbits and guinea pigs.

Pauline Ranner, deputy centre manager at Blue Cross in Cambridge, said: “At our re-homing centres we deal with some very upsetting situations when pets are brought to us following relationship splits. It really is devastating for everyone involved – including the pet. One partner will sometimes bring a pet to us for re-homing without the other’s knowledge. Our pets are not just material goods; they are often at the heart of our home lives, so it is a good idea to agree on your pet’s future in advance to make a difficult situation easier.

“It makes sense to agree up front who will keep your pet so that they don’t get dragged through the courts or end up in our re-homing centres.”

The free document, which can be downloaded from the Blue Cross website.

Vanessa Lloyd Platt, divorce lawyer at Lloyd Platt & Company, said: “Pets are part of the family so in the event of divorce who gets to look after the pet, as with children, is sadly all too often the grounds for much dispute. We handle more than four hundred divorces a year, many of which have a prenuptial agreement involved, and whilst they are always emotional and hard for those involved, the pre-nuptial agreements definitely take the conflict out of them and speed up the process. Just as with the house, the car, and the gadgets, it makes sense to agree right at the outset who gets ownership of the dog, horse or the chinchilla in the event of a relationship breakdown or divorce.”

Rising Number of Separations, Growing per Capita Disposable Income, and Rising Affluent Class Population are Driving Growth in Australian Pet Food Market

According to a recently published report by TechSci Research “Australia Pet Food Market Forecast & Opportunities, 2019“, the pet food market in Australia is projected to grow at a CAGR of around 2.94% during 2014-19 in value terms. Increasing number of old-age couples and DINK (Dual Income, No Kid) families, and rising disposable income are the major factors driving pet adoption in the country. Significant growth witnessed in separation rate among Australians is also a major factor driving the demand for pet food in the country. New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory account for significant share in pet food market due to higher pet population as well as disposable incomes of people living in the region. Leading pet food manufacturers operating in the Australian market include Mars International, Nestle Purina, Connex United Processors, The Great Australian Pet food Co., etc.

In Australia, pet food is offered in dry, wet and treat/snack form, and are even advised by vets to pet owners. In Australia, people prefer keeping dog as pet over cat and other animals. In 2013, around 61% of the pet owners in Australia had dogs, while the remaining had cats, fishes, birds, rabbits, etc. as pets. Cat, on the other hand, is a more popular pet among affluent class people in the country. The population of pet fish is also increasing as people are moving into smaller houses and high-rise apartments due to increasing urbanization.

“In Australia, pets are treated like family members by pet owners who are willing to spend more on their pet’s health and wellbeing. With increasing pet ownership and rise in disposable income levels, the demand for pet food is increasing at a significant pace in the country. To address the rise in demand and attract pet owners, companies are planning to expand their production by setting up manufacturing units across the country,” said Mr. Karan Chechi, Research Director with TechSci Research, a research based global management consulting firm.

“Australia Pet Food Market forecast & Opportunities, 2019“ has evaluated the future growth potential of Australia’s pet food market and provides statistics and information on market sizes, shares and trends. The report will suffice in providing the intending clients with cutting-edge market intelligence and help them in taking sound investment decisions. Besides, the report also identifies and analyzes the emerging trends along with essential drivers and key challenges faced by the pet food market in Australia.

About TechSci Research

TechSci Research is a global market research and consulting company with offices in Canada, UK and India. TechSci Research provides market research consulting services in six verticals – Information Technology, Chemicals, Water & Water Recycling, Consumer Goods & Retail, Automotive and Energy & Power. The company uses proprietary innovative business model that focuses on improved productivity that also ensure the creation of high-quality reports. With more than 100 client engagements with fortune 500 clients, TechSci Research enjoys the status of a premium market research services provider in the industry.

Pet Express recently gave away party packages to lucky online winners during the Pet Express Dog and Cat Expo at the SMX Convention Center. The expo gathers some of the country’s biggest pet organizations, pet shops, and pet accessories.

Its feline fun time at the Meow Mix Play Area, where cats can play and relax in this amazing Cat Condo.
This Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) rescued cat are ready for adoption at the Purina Fancy Feast Pet Café.
Visitors enjoy freebies at the Eukanuba booth.
This Spitz is enjoying the birthday party with his friends.
Rejielyn Singcay and her Shih Tzu ‘Lila’ won the Vitality Dog Food Eating Contest in the Small Breed category.

Participants got to avail loads of discounts from partner establishments. There were also a photobooth, which was a hit in the expo, as well as pet grooming stations. On the other hand, new pet owners learned a lot from the pet health seminar and dog training session led by Pinoy Dog Whisperer Lestre Zapanta. Lestre gave tips on how pet owners can build harmonious relationships with their pets.

Highlights of the events were the dog food- eating contest and the Pet Express JeoPawrdy Charity Game, a quiz bee for dogs. The winning dog club donated their prize from Alpo Philippines to the organization of their choice.

For more information, visit Pet Express Stores at SM malls and its branches at Corinthian Hills and Greenhills.

The Mid-Pacific region All Breed and Household Pet Cat Show is August 16-17 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the air-conditioned McClellan Conference Center at 5411 Luce Avenue in McClellan Business Park.

Visitors can watch more than 30 breeds of cats and kittens being judged and talk to their owners in the aisles where the cats are benched. Owners are very proud of their cats, which are groomed to perfection, and happy to talk about what makes their breed special. The longhair breeds present will include Balinese, Birmans, Himalayans, Maine Coons, Ragdolls and Siberians. Shorthair cats include Abyssinian, American Shorthair, Bengal, Cornish Rex, Devon Rex, Exotic Shorthair, Sphynx and Tonkinese.

The Wine Country Cat Club is hosting the show. Members will wear “Ask Me” badges and answer any questions about the show and the cats. At a special Education ring, judging will be explained and breeds presented.

A Kitten Litter Match Competition mid-day Sunday will be a special treat. Litters of kittens, three to seven months old, will be evaluated for consistency in meeting the standard of their breed and then Best and Second Best Litter will be awarded.

Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for seniors and children and $15 for families. Proceeds from the raffle will go to Front Street Animal Shelter and Animal Outreach of the Mother Lode. Both shelters will have cats and kittens available for adoption.

Much like dog shows, the cats are judged on overall balance and proportion, with each compared to the standard for its breed. The standard specifies how the ideal cat of a breed would look and act. The more a competing cat meets the standard, the better it will score. Judges announce Best of Breed and then call back their Top Ten Cats in Show. With Household Pets, judges look for a pleasant personality and a beautiful, or especially cute, cat.

An adopted kitten from the Front Street Animal Shelter is currently the number one kitten in TICA’s Mid-Pacific region and is in 6th place internationally. She was adopted at a cat show to which Animal Outreach of the Mother Lode and the City of Sacramento’s Front Street Shelter had brought adoptable felines.